Tottenham announce new arrival to Thomas Frank backroom staff as former Liverpool coach joins | OneFootball

Dutchman served as Arne Slot’s assistant last season before taking up head coach role at Ajax in the summer

Tottenham have confirmed the appointment of John Heitinga as first-team assistant coach.

The former Liverpool assistant coach's main responsibilities will be in helping coach a defence that has conceded 27 goals in 21 league games this season.

He will join Justin Cochrane (First Team Assistant Coach), Chris Haslam (Head of Performance & First Team Assistant Coach), Andreas Georgson (First Team Assistant Coach), Joe Newton (First Team Coach Analyst), Cameron Campbell (First Team Individual Development Coach) and Fabian Otte (First Team Goalkeeper Coach) in making up Frank’s backroom team heading into the second half of the season.

Heitinga joined Ajax from Liverpool, where he served as an assistant to Arne Slot as the Reds won the Premier League title last season.

The former Dutch international, who made 87 appearances for his country, was also first-team assistant at West Ham.

John Heitinga was at Liverpool last season

AFP via Getty Images

On Heitinga’s appointment, Frank said: “John is a great addition to our coaching staff. His ability, personality and character will add huge value both on and off the pitch.

“He had an impressive playing career across Europe – including five years in the Premier League – and with the Dutch national team.

“As a former defender, that will be one of his main responsibilities on the training pitch, and he brings great coaching and management experiences from all levels of the game, which will really help us moving forward.”